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New Handy Site On Plumbing

What are alloys and some of their properties?

An alloy is a combination by fusion of two or more metals. All alloys are opaque, have a metallic luster, are more or less ductile, elastic and malleable, also good conductors of heat and electricity.

What is solder, and of what is plumbers' solder composed?

A metal or alloy to unite adjacent metallic edges or surfaces and is composed of lead and tin in different proportions.

What are the proportions of lead and tin in plumbers' solders, and their melting points?

Coarse mixture 3 lead 1 tin, melts 480°
Plumbers' mixture 60 lead 40 tin, melts 440°
Fine mixture 1 lead 1 tin, melts 370°
Tin pipe mixture Head 11/2 tin, melts 330°
What spoils solder and how should it be cleaned?

Allowing zinc or antimony to mix with it and by burning it.

Clean it by heating the solder to 900° or more, introducing sulphur, which helps impurities to rise. When this is skimmed, put in resin, and the mixture should be purified. This high temperature is needed to melt antimony which fuses at 834°, and zinc at 773°.

Why should solder never be allowed to burn?

Because the pliable property and nutriment are extracted.

What are some of the fluxes used in soldering different metals?

For iron, borax or sal-ammoniac. For zinc, copper or brass,—sal-ammoniac or zinc chloride. For lead or tin pipes,—tallow or resin. Also, for iron and zinc, drop small pieces of zinc into two ounces of muriatic acid until bubbles cease to rise; then add a little water.